Arrangement for Cooling the Body of Individuals or the Like

ABSTRACT

An assembly for cooling the body of a person or another body has cooling elements that are movably connected to one another, contain a cooling liquid, and are arranged in the form of a cape or shawl which can be worn about the body of the person or the like for the purpose of being cooled. In order to provide such a cooling arrangement, which allows particularly rapid and efficient cooling of the body, provision is made for the cooling elements to contain within them a material, for example graphite, which is a good thermal conductor in relation to the cooling liquid and is intended for absorbing the cooling liquid.

The invention relates to a system for cooling the body of individuals orthe like, having cooling elements which are connected with each other ina movable manner and are arranged in the form of a cape which may beworn by the individual or the like to be cooled and contain a coolingliquid.

In particular, the present invention relates to the cooling of sportsmenafter doing high-performance sport so as to increase his/her performancein the following activities. The inventive system may be used, e.g., byfootball players for a certain time during half-time of a football matchin order to increase their performance in the second half time. Thesystem may also be used with different sports or activities. Althoughthe present invention is mainly directed at cooling persons, a use withanimals, e.g. race horses, would also be conceivable.

After having done high-performances in sports or at work, the respectiveindividuals most often want to cool their bodies. For this purpose,cooling beverages are drunk and/or the body is cooled with water. Acooling of the body with cold water is, however, not always possible orsuitable. For example, sportsmen do not have the time to take a showerand to, thus, act against the heating of the body during breaks of sportevents, e.g. during box fights or football matches.

Cooling covers for reducing the body temperature, e.g. for the head orinflamed body parts have been known but they most often produce aninsufficient reduction of the body temperature during short periods ofuse.

Clothes in the form of vests or the like, which may be used for coolingindividuals, have been known, e.g. from U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,455 A, U.S.Pat. No. 6,189,149 B1, U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,238 A, U.S. Pat. No.5,146,625 A or DE 35 21 813 A1. In these documents, mostly coolingliquid or gel-like cooling media are used for cooling purposes, whichmay be inserted into corresponding pockets or the like provided on theclothing. Here, the effort necessary for preparing the cooling system isrelatively high. Moreover, a rapid cooling of individuals is most oftennot possible.

DE 30 04 596 A1 shows a cooling vest of the present kind, wherein thecooling means is introduced into the double-walled cooling vest. Here,water may be used as a cooling liquid. The cold transfer to the body ofthe person and the adsorption of the body heat of the individual by thecooling system is relatively slow so that a cooling in a very short timeis not possible.

Thus, the object of the present invention resides in creating anabove-mentioned cooling system, by means of which the body of anindividual or the like can be efficiently cooled in a very short time.The disadvantages of known cooling systems shall be reduced or avoided.The cooling system shall be easy to use and allow for a quick use. Theproduction costs shall not be too high.

The object according to the invention is achieved by an above-mentionedcooling system, wherein a material for receiving the cooling liquid iscontained in the cooling elements, said material being a thermally goodconductor compared to the cooling liquid. Thanks to the thermallywell-conductive material contained in the cooling elements the usuallybad heat conductivity of the cooling liquid, e.g. of water, iseliminated, and thanks to the good conductivity of the material arrangedin the cooling element it is achieved that the melting temperature ofthe cooling liquid will be reached very quickly when using the coolingsystem. Thus, when water is used as a cooling liquid, the high meltingheat of the ice may be used for the cooling. Provided that theappropriate cooling liquids are used, frostbites on the body surface ofthe individual or the like are thus avoided. If a corresponding heatcapacity is provided by the cooling elements, a particularly rapidcooling of the body will also be achieved when the inventive cape isused for a relatively short time. The cape consisting of the coolingelements including a cooling liquid may be used in a particularly quickand simple manner by putting it on like a usual piece of clothing. Bythe measure that the cooling elements are movably connected with eachother, the inventive cape is sufficiently flexible to provide a highwear comfort. The cape is stored, e.g. in a cooling device such as, e.g.deep-freezer, in order to appropriately cool down the cooling liquidpresent in the cooling elements. Before the cape is used, it is takenfrom the deep-freezer and the individual or the like puts it on. In thismanner, a sportsman may, for example, cool down the body by wearing thecape for a certain time, e.g. for a few minutes, during the break ofmatches and may increase his/her performance for the following sportactivities. It is also conceivable to use the cape with workingmenbefore they have to do particularly exhausting activities.

In order to prevent the cooling elements from directly contacting thebody surface of the individual or the like and from causing pains oreven burns as a consequence of the low temperatures, spacers may bearranged on the side of the cooling system facing the body. Thesespacers ensure a certain minimum distance between the body surface andthe cooling elements so that the body is cooled by radiation of thecooling elements only. Moreover, thanks to the air circulation betweenthe spacers the body surface is aerated and dehumidified.

To provide a high wear comfort, the spacers may be made of foamedmaterial.

To be able to adapt the spacers to the individual requirements, they maybe made of a plastically deformable material. Provided that appropriatematerials are used, the spacer may at certain locations be overcome byexerting an appropriate pressure, thus reducing the distance between thecooling element and the body surface if desired.

Furthermore, the spacers may be designed to be detachable to renderpossible an individual adaptation for cooling certain body regions. Forexample, the spacers may be connectable with the inner side of the capeby means of a hook-and-loop fastener and may be arranged on certainlocations of the inner side of the cape as required.

To increase the wear comfort, shoulder pads may be arranged in the cape.Since the weight of the cape is relatively high due to the coolingelements including the cooling liquid, and since the weight may be inrange of from 10 to 20 kg, such shoulder pads distribute the forceacting on the shoulder.

Preferably, the shoulder pads are made of foamed material.

According to a further feature of the invention, the cape has sleeves toensure a cooling of the arms as well. Instead of putting on thespecifically designed sleeves, the individual may also wear the cape inthe form of a poncho covering the arms so as to appropriately cool alsothe arms.

To provide an appropriate cooling of the head, the cape may also have ahood including cooling elements.

To simplify the use of the cape, the latter may have at least onepreferably closable opening. Here, as is usually the case with pieces ofclothing, the opening may be designed to cover only a part of the lengthof the cape or to be continuous covering the whole length from top tobottom.

According to a feature of the present invention, at least one openingmay be formed by an appropriate zip. Thus, a quick opening and closingof the cape and, thus, a quick use thereof is ensured.

Alternatively or additionally to the zip, at least one opening may alsobe closable by a hook-and-loop fastener.

To ensure an efficient radiation of cold from the cooling elements tothe body surface, the side of the cape facing the body may be black.

To ensure a sufficient air circulation and to dissipate sweat, the capemay have vent holes at suitable locations.

If, according to a further feature of the invention, the cape isdesigned to be printed on its outer side, it may be used as anadvertising medium, which is of enormous economic importance in sports.

Alternatively or additionally to printed regions of the cape, units forreceiving advertising media or the like may be provided on the outerside of the cape.

Such receiving units may be connected, e.g. by a pocket made oftransparent material having at least one opening for inserting theadvertising medium or the like, or by hook-and-loop fasteners or thelike. Thus, e.g. an advertising sign may be inserted into thetransparent pocket or an advertising banner or the like provided withhook-and-loop fasteners on the rear side may be attached to the outerside of the cap.

To check the temperature of the cooling elements, the cape may have anindicator for indicating the temperature. Such a temperature indicatoris preferably designed not to include a battery and may be formed, e.g.by a colour indicator, which changes its colour as a function of thetemperature.

Advantageously, the cooling liquid is formed by water. Since water has amelting point of 0° C. (+32° F.), it may not cause temperatures at thebody surface of below 0° C. (+32° F.) and, thus, burns of the skincannot occur when the cooling system contacts the skin. Here, ultra-purewater is preferably used. The melting heat of water, i.e. thetemperature the ice absorbs to liquefy, is 335 kJ/kg and relativelyhigh.

To prevent or delay a cooling-off of the cooling elements towards theoutside, a thermally isolating layer may be provided on the side of thecooling elements facing away from the body. This thermally isolatinglayer may be made of suitable materials which have a poor heatconductivity and are easy to be processed.

The outer side of the cape may be formed by fabric. However, in order toreduce the weight of the cape, it is also possible not to provide for afabric and to arrange the cooling elements, e.g. directly on a gridconsisting of latex and to vulcanise the same.

The present invention will be explained in detail by way of the encloseddrawings. Therein:

FIG. 1 is a representation of the inventive cooling system for coolingthe body of an individual;

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a cooling system in sectionalrepresentation; and

FIG. 3 is a further detailed view of a cooling system in partiallysectional representation.

FIG. 1 shows a representation of one embodiment variant of an inventivesystem for cooling the body of an individual 1 or the like by means ofmovably interconnected cooling elements 2, which contain a coolingliquid 3 and are arranged in the form of a cape 4 which may be worn bythe individual 1 to be cooled. The cooling elements 2 are, e.g.cuboid-shaped, as is better illustrated in the sectional representationin FIG. 2. The cooling elements 2 consist of a jacket 5 which is madeof, e.g., flexible plastics such as, for example, latex or silicone. Acooling liquid 3 is provided in the cooling elements 2, said coolingliquid being embedded in a preferably thermally well-conductivematerial, such as, e.g. metal wool, metal foam or graphite, whereby theheat conductivity can be increased and, thus, the cooling liquid 3 mayconvey its cold more quickly. To prevent the cooling liquid 3 in thecooling elements 2 from being heated from the outside or to reduce thisprocess, a thermally isolating layer 6 may be arranged on the side ofthe cooling elements 2 facing away from the body of the individual 1.The outer side of the cape 4 is preferably formed by a layer of a fabric7. To improve the radiation of cold towards the body surface of theindividual 1, the side 8 of the cooling elements 2 facing the bodysurface of the individual 1 may be black. To prevent the coolingelements 2 from contacting the body surface of the individual 1, spacers9 may be arranged on the side 8 of the cooling elements 2 facing thebody of the individual 1 or the like. These spacers 9 may be made of afoamed material or a plastically deformable material and may, e.g. alsobe arranged to be detachable.

The cape 4 may have sleeves 10 to cool the arms, and a hood 11 to coolthe head. The cape 4 may be designed to be longer or shorter, dependingon whether the legs shall also be sufficiently cooled. To facilitate theputting-on of cape 4, at least one preferably closable opening 12 may beprovided which may be formed, e.g., by a zip 13. The opening 12 may alsobe closable by at least one hook-and-loop fastener 14. To ensure an aircirculation under the cape 4, vent holes 15 may be provided at differentlocations and in different sizes.

The outer side of the cape 4 may be designed to be fully printed or tobe printed on certain locations 16. In this manner, the cape may be usedas an advertising medium, which is of huge economic importance insports. Instead of printed locations 16, also units for receivingadvertising media or the like, such as, e.g. a pocket made oftransparent material or hook-and-loop fasteners, may be provided on theouter side of the cape 4 (not illustrated). To indicate the temperatureof the cooling elements 2 to the individual 1 or the like wearing thecape 4, appropriate indicators may be arranged for indicating thetemperature (not illustrated). They may be formed, e.g., by colourindicators working with no batteries.

As can be better seen from the partially sectional representation ofFIG. 3, shoulder pads 17 may also be provided which are preferably madeof foamed material or the like. Since the cape 4 including the coolingelements 2 is relatively heavy, pressure marks on the shoulders of theindividual 1 are avoided by the shoulder pads 17 and, at the same time,a distance to the body surface is created. FIG. 3 shows further spacers9 for ensuring a minimum distance between the body surface and thebottom side of the cooling elements 2.

1-23. (canceled)
 24. A system for cooling a body, comprising: aplurality of cooling elements connected to one another and movablerelative to one another; said cooling elements together substantiallyforming a cape to be worn about the body to be cooled; cooling liquidcontained in said cooling elements; and a material disposed in saidcooling elements for receiving said cooling liquid, said material beinga good thermal conductor compared to said cooling liquid.
 25. Thecooling system according to claim 24, which comprises spacers disposedon a side of the assembly facing the body.
 26. The cooling systemaccording to claim 25, wherein said spacers are made of foamed material.27. The cooling system according to claim 25, wherein said spacers aremade of plastically deformable material.
 28. The cooling systemaccording to claim 25, wherein said spacers are detachably mounted. 29.The cooling system according to claim 24, which comprises shoulder padsdisposed in said cape.
 30. The cooling system according to claim 29,wherein said shoulder pads are made of foamed material.
 31. The coolingsystem according to claim 24, wherein said cape is formed with sleeves.32. The cooling system according to claim 24, wherein said cape isformed with a hood.
 33. The cooling system according to claim 24,wherein said cape is formed with one or more openings.
 34. The coolingsystem according to claim 33, wherein at least one of said openings is acloseable opening formed with a zipper.
 35. The cooling system accordingto claim 33, wherein at least one of said openings is a closeableopening formed with a hook-and-loop fastener.
 36. The cooling systemaccording to claim 24, wherein a side of said cape facing the body issubstantially black.
 37. The cooling system according to claim 24,wherein said cape is formed with vent holes.
 38. The cooling systemaccording to claim 24, wherein said cape has an outer side configured tobe printed upon.
 39. The cooling system according to claim 24, whereinsaid cape has an outer side with receiving units for receivingadvertising media.
 40. The cooling system according to claim 39, whereinsaid receiving units are pockets of transparent material formed with atleast one opening for inserting an advertising medium therein.
 41. Thecooling system according to claim 39, wherein said receiving units arehook-and-loop fasteners.
 42. The cooling system according to claim 24,which comprises an indicator mounted to said cape for indicating atemperature.
 43. The cooling system according to claim 24, wherein saidthermally well-conductive material is graphite.
 44. The cooling systemaccording to claim 24, wherein said cooling liquid is water.
 45. Thecooling system according to claim 24, which comprises a thermallyinsulating layer disposed on a side of said cooling elements facing awayfrom the body.
 46. The cooling system according to claim 24, wherein anouter side of said cape is formed of a fabric.